Boot latch



Patented Get. 22, 1929 "l" E S PATENT OFFECE.

FRED G. MILLER, OF WASHINGTON, ILLINOS Boor LATCH Application ledJanuary 3, 1928. `Serial No. 244,227.

rlhe purpose of this invention is to provide an improved attacliingmember for securing the parts of a boot latch or fastener to the wallsof a boot or overshoe, and particularly adapted to serve as a repairpart when the original fastener requires replacement. It consists incertain features and elements of construction herein shown and describedas indicated by the claim.

ln the drawings:

Figure l is a perspective view of an overshoe, having the fastenersecured thereto by my improved attaching members.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary side view looking at the inside leaf of theattaching member secured to the wall of an overshoe and carrying atongue of the fastener.

Figure 3 is a front fragmentary view of an overshoe showing a fastenersecured by the attaching members to the walls of the shoe.

Figure l is a section taken on line 4in-4 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a plan view of the blank for the metal attaching strip.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of an attaching member, bent, and readyto be applied.

Figure 7 is a section taken through the vulcanized edge of the tongueand wall, at a point through the reenforced fabric which usually carriesthe boot latch or fastener members.

ln the drawings, the invention is shown as applied to an overshoe, l,overlapping the front edges, 2, of wall, 3, and tongue, 1l. Ordinarily,overshoes are made up with side walls and tongue portions of twothicknesses of fabric, the outer one usually being completely coatedwith rubber or some treated.

composition. The connection of the tongue, l, to the front portions ofthe walls is had by vulcaniaing the edges to provide a water andweather-proof construction. Boot latches or fasteners for boots,overshoes and the like are usually connected to a reenforced piece offabric, 5, of the same material as the walls, 3. ylihis reenforcedmember comprises a strip doubled back on itself to provide a loopadjacent the edge, 2, for carrying one of the mem bers of thelatch,while the ends of said loop are interposed between the wall, 3, andtongue, a, and vulcanized therebetween as illustrated in Figure 7. Thelatch or fastener comprises the usual metal spring snap tongue, 6, andthe plate, 7, with a plurality of apertures for adjustment. It will beclear that the metal fastener members will eut and wear through thefabric loops of the reenforced portion, 5, quite rapidly, and this ofcourse would render the boot or overshoe useless.

My improved attaching members, 8, for the fastener may be applied to theboot or shoe when originally fabricated. However, this attaching memberis especially adapted to serve as a repair part when the original fabricreenforcement wears through. This repair part will save discarding bootsand overshoes that are capable of giving considerable wear or use.'lhese attaching members are identical for either member of the latchand are each formed from a s-ingle strip of metal, as shown in Figure 5,having two Alaterally projecting tangs, 9, from each side adjacent oneend. A portion of the opposite end is slightly narrower and is providedwith two transverse depressions, 10, for registration with the tangs,when clinched therein in attaching position. The attaching member, 8 isfolded adjacent the center to form two leaves, the strip at the foldbeing rounded or bulged to form an eye, 1l, for hinging the end of thelatch member. The leaf having the tangs, 9, may be slightly shorter thanthe other leaf when in folded position and is so shown in the drawings.

Then applying the attaching member to used boots and shoes, thereenforced loop ends, 5, are trimmed off flush with the edge, 2, asshown in Figure 7. The leaves of the attaching member are then disposedat opposite sides of the wall formed by the part, 3, and tongue, 4, nearthe edge, 2, with the reenforced portion, 5, therebetween. The leaves ofthe member, 8, are then pinched together to force the tangs, 9, throughthe fabric from the outer side of the wall with said tan gs piercing thefabric at an area inwardly beyond the stub portions of thereenforcement, 5; they are then clinched over in the depressions, l0, ofthe leaf portion disposed against the inner wall. The stubs, 5, beingadjacent the edge, 2, provide a wedging effect when the attachment, 8,is applied, so that the thickness of the material at the tangs is lessthan at the edge, 2; this results in a substantially uniform thicknessof the attaching member, as may be seen in Figure 4. Further, thedepressions, 10, not only remove the ends of the tangs, 9, from thesurface plane of the said member, but also tend to engage the fabric ina corrugated manner and thus more securely liX said member rigidly inplace.

I claim In a boot having a flexible Wall, a repair member for anchoringa fastener to the Wall of the boot and comprising a strip of materialfolded to form leaves overlapping the inner and outer surfaces of theWall, one leaf having tangs extending from its lateral edges through thefabric toward and past the other leaf to be clinched over the latter andthe other leaf 2o being formed With depressed portions constitutingcorrugations extending transversely of the direction of strain on thefastener and positioned to receive the tangs when clinched, whereby saidcorrugations engage the Wall for transmitting the strain thereto.

In testimony whereof, Iliave hereunto set my hand at Chicago, Illinois,this 29th day of December, 1926.

FRED G. MILLER.

